Comments by emkman

While I certainly feel for the victims of violence and their families, how is 16 deaths over 20 years a gang epidemic? Francisco hopes for a 10-15% reduction in crime, which means that maybe in theory this number goes down to 14 deaths over the next 20 years.

So we are going to ruin Santa Barbara's reputation, waste millions of dollars, and trample the rights of it's citizens to potentially prevent one murder per decade? How many DUI deaths do we have every decade? Already 5 this year IIRC? I don't see anyone proposing a injunction to ban cars within 2,000 ft of "bar zones".

For perspective, I graduated in 2007 from UCSB with a BS in Computer Engineering. I lived in IV during what may be considered the "transition period" to where we are today. I am reposting this comment I made from an ongoing Facebook thread of my friends who are fellow Gaucho alumni:

"I'm not really ashamed of UCSB students. It is the continuation of a completely misguided and mismanaged crowd control strategy and the blame is shared by the police department, the university, and the county Board of Supervisors.The University continues to increase its population, which allows it to make more money and grow in size. Because of this, all gatherings continue to grow in size. Floatopia became very big, and some people got alcohol poisoning and some people got hurt (it does disappoint me greatly when drunk people throw glass bottles and hurt other people). When confronted with ways to address Floatopia's size, the powers that be turned down a proposal to turn it in to a managed, staffed, permitted event that would have trash cleanup (one of the biggest problems), medical staff (other big problem), set times, and other resources. Instead they chose to close the beach for EVERYONE, an unprecedented, legally questionable, and all around TERRIBLE idea. This solved the problem of trash on the beach but made everything else so much worse. Deltopia is bigger than Floatopia and has an inherently rebellious nature. "We can't party on the beach? F--k you, we will party in the streets." Then as Deltopia rages on, some stabbings occur (another serious but unrelated problem that happens far too much in IV/Goleta) and the police try to investigate. Due to the large crowds (again the University growth and the decision to ban Floatopia share in this blame) as well as the general resentment of the police (IVFP is solely to blame for this, due to the militaristic way that they patrol and interact with the community), people start throwing bottles at the police. Not a lot of people, just a handful. The response of the police, to deal with 5 or less offenders, is again to try and ban EVERYONE. They declare Deltopia an "unlawful gathering" and start trying to clear the streets. This is when the riot starts. Sound familiar? Every time, instead of addressing the situation, they try to enforce a blanket ban that not only is unfavorable but also not logical or even possible, and people react accordingly."

Num1UofAn, your statement, while true, is so ironic in its ignorance. Yes, it is easier for kids to get marijuana than alcohol. It has been this way for decades. The irony is that you allude to blaming this access on dispensaries. In reality, the reason marijuana is easier to get than alcohol is because it is illegal and not sold in stores! Drug dealers don't check ID and will sell pot to any kid, and this is the way it will always be with prohibition. Dispensaries do check ID and don't serve minors, much like liquor stores. The problem is that because of prohibition, there is still a black market and an incentive to resell medical marijuana illegally, but this is not the dispensaries' fault. If marijuana was legal and only sold in stores to those 21 and over, it would be equally as difficult for a minor to get marijuana as to get alcohol. Please take some time to think about this logically so you can realize that prohibition endangers our youth and that dispensaries are not the enemy, just the scapegoat.

Does anyone else find it utterly offensive that Mender, who is on the board of directors at the Jodi House, accused the vandals of being brain damaged? That's a terrible thing to say coming from someone who you would think takes brain injuries and mental handicaps very seriously. The other Jodi House board members should twice about about being in her company.

We wouldn't need more prisons if we stopped incarcerating non-violent drug offenders and had more job opportunities, education, and alternative treatment programs for the at-risk population. On top of that, there is no way people will pass the tax in this economy, and even putting it on the ballot will cost the county thousands of dollars. If the state would pay for 3/4 of the costs( How, they are broke?), then why is the tax twice as much as it was last time it was proposed? Hopefully the Supes will vote this down quickly.

A great article by Dr. Bearman. I too find the addiction recovery argument both laughable and maddening. On the first block of West Figueroa, where thousands of people have sought alcohol and drug treatment from Zona Secca, there is a bar and a tobacconist. According to the US government, both alcohol and tobacco are more addictive than marijuana: http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/28

Since Prop 215 passed 14 years ago, there have been as many 20 dispensaries in Santa Barbara, and while there have been problems with a few that were poorly run, the sky has not fallen. The fact that the city council cannot finalize the ordinance strictly regulating five professionally operated, secure, tax paying dispensaries is disappointing. After watching an interview with Council member Hotchkiss on the news last night, as he struggled to remember his supposed talking points, it became clear that he doesn't really understand the issue, and has been swayed by the overzealous emotional pleas. I do not condone it, however kids were smoking pot in school before dispensaries, and they will continue to do so whether or not they are banned. The City would do well to take Dr. Delio's advice and consult real health and policy experts, instead of playing ringleader in the red shirt circus.